2) Tell us about it in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or in a Google Plus or Facebook note.

I know it's Tuesday, but I was with my son's family at the Kern River over the weekend. In addition, poetry has never been my strong suit; even though I knew I would struggle with this challenge, I wanted to do it. So here's "where I'm from"!

I am from the land of sunshine, from Hostess berry pies and Dr. Pepper.

I am from the typical suburban tract house with two dogs and a cat and a doughboy swimming pool in the backyard.

I am from a magical, green clearing in the Alaskan woods, from the fragrance of Mama’s roses.

I am from Mayflower passengers and German immigrants, from those who worked with their hands and those who farmed lands, from Spurlocks and Martindales, Sniders and Yawmans.

I am from book readers and music lovers, from seamstresses and shoemakers.

From “while you’re up” and “oh, what a beautiful morning.”

I am from “go to Sunday school” Christianity and now a believer in nature and all things good and beautiful.

I’m from the GoldenState, by way of Texas and Louisiana, Minnesota and Kansas, from sea to shining sea, and from across the Atlantic.

I’m from creamed tuna on toast, lemon meringue pie and divinity.

From Myrtle and Bea who, when they laughed, laughed all over, and from Ambrose and Jack whose reserve made them a mystery.

I am from too few treasures saved and so have become the memorykeeper.

First, for Tombstone Tuesday, I am posting pictures of the front and back of the tombstone memorializing my parents, Jasper Jackson and Beaulah Belle (Yawman) Spurlock, located in LoneGroveCemetery, Lone Grove, Carter County, Oklahoma.

Now for Tuesday’s Tip: Don’t accept what you find engraved on a tombstone as your only proof for a genealogical fact. You could be lead astray!

My father is the only person buried in the grave pictured above. My mother died in Bakersfield, Kern County, California; at her request, her body was donated to the University of Southern California for medical research purposes. My siblings and I chose to have a new marker made for my dad’s grave to remember my mom as well.

You might surmise from the listing on the back of the marker that my parents had six children, but they did not. Jane was my father’s daughter from his first marriage to Mattie Lee McBride. Deanna, Arny and Tony are my mother’s children from her first marriage to Archie Sherrell. Jenny and I are the only two children born of my parents’ union.

Perhaps you know of a unintentionally deceptive tombstone in your own family. If you do, make a record of it so that future descendants will not be mislead.

Monday, July 25, 2011

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

This week I am presenting the 1819 will of Thomas Cook of Wilkes County, North Carolina, one of my maternal 4th great-grandfathers. Thomas identified 17 children by name in his will! Only the five youngest children, those of his second (perhaps third) wife Charlotte, were to benefit from his estate; he said the others had already received their shares. It is probably the longest will I have encountered in my research to date.

Will of Thomas Cook

May Term)In the Name of God Amen._I Thomas Cook of

1819)the County of Wilkes in the State of North Carolina.

being old and afflicted in body, but being of sound and dispo-

sing mind and Memory, do here think proper to make my last

Will and Testament in manner and form following.. In the

first place I Recommend my Soul to God who gave to be disposed

of at his pleasure, and my Body after Death to be Buried in the

[?] form of entering the Remains of Deceased :Persons in this

Country._ First I give and Bequeath unto Joshua Martin Cook

whom I claim and consider to be my own Son begotten upon the

Body of Charloote Cook whom I consider to be my Wife. and with

whom I have lived as such for a Number of Years; the said Char-

loote Cook have been Married or commonly Reputed to have

bedn Married to one George Anderson previous to my Intermar-

riage with the said Charloote. (to wit.) One Negroe Man Named

Charles, & one Negroe girl Child named Kisiah._Secondly

I give and bequeath unto Calvin Jones Cook whom I claim

and consider to be my own Son begotten upon the Body of Char-

loote Cook whom I consider to be my Wife and with whom I

have lived as such for a Number of Years, the said Charloote hav-

ing been Maried or commonly Reputed to have been Married to

One George Anderson, previous to my Intermarriage with the

said Charloote, (to wit.) one Negroe Woman named Virgin &

one Negro Woman Named Hulda._Thirdly it is my Will

and desire that all my Lands that I now own in Wilkes Coun

-ty & ceded to my and to which I have title in fee or otherwise

Being about four Hundred and foorty acres; shall be equally div

ed between my two Sons Joshua Martin Cook and Calvin Jon [unreadable]

Cook Heretofore named as above, when the Youngest of my sa [unreadable]

Sons shall arrive at the full age of twenty one Years, which sai [unreadable]

Division shall be made by my Executors herein after Named [unreadable]

which said Division it is my Will shall be so made that the

Lands shall be Equal or as nearly equal in value as itis po[unreadable]

ble to be made: It is my Will that Charloote Cook whom I clai[unreadable]

to be my Wife heretofore Married to George Anderson, shall ha[unreadable]

hold said Negroes and hold, occupy and enjoy my said Lands bef[unreadable]

mentioned and Described during the Minority of my said Sons Jos[unreadable]

Friday, July 22, 2011

1778: One of my maternal 4th great-grandmothers, Nancy Margaret (Woodward) Campbell, was born in Virginia, reportedly the daughter of William Woodard and Mrs. Jane Dayton but this is not confirmed. She died after 1860, and is buried at Chloe Creek Cemetery in Pike County, Kentucky. [Source 1: Annette Potter, William Campbell and Nancy Margaret Woodward; Potter Family and Friends (http://yeahpot.com/campbell/william1768.html : accessed 3 Jul 2011).]

Monday, July 18, 2011

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

Today I am posting my transcription of the 1815 will of William Hamontree, one of my paternal 5th great grandfathers. William listed all his children in his will by first name only. One child's name was misread when the will was copied into the court records—Harriet should have been Harris! I thought it interesting that William was specific in his bequests of livestock to his sons Jacob and Jesse. Another peculiar bequest was the money due from the county for the care of John Hays; who WAS John Hays?

I William Hamontree of BlountCounty and State of Tenn-

essee being weak of body but of sound mind and disposing

memory do make and ordain thismy last will and testament

in manner following as to what worldly estate it hath pleased

God to bless me with me with after the discharge of all my just debts

I give and bequeath as follows. first my will is that my wife PatseyHamontree be and remain in full possession of the farm and

improvements where I now live and also the household furniture

and that she have her maintainance in the Same during her

natural life and at her decease that my two Sons Jacob and

Jesse Hamontree be the heirs and possessors of said farm

to them and their heirs [page torn] to my wife and above named

Sons after her I give and bequeath a horse called old crop the young

roane mare a colt two years old named to Jacob a last springs

colt named to Jesse, and the milch cows my wagon and gears and a

note on Daniel Best for $77. and as many hogs as my executors may

think proper to leave with them for their Support. 3d I give and

bequeath to my wife the money due or to become due from the coun-

ty for the Support of John Hays 4th I give and bequeath to my son

David the young mares colt. 5th the remainder of my property to be

immediately sold by my executors the proceeds there of together with

the debts due to me to be equally divided amongst the rest of my chil-

1848: David A. Snider, one of my maternal great-grandfathers, was born in that area of Virginia which is now West Virginia, the son of David Snider and Nancy Colwell (perhaps Caldwell). He died on 30 June 1929, in Saint Paul, Neosho County, Kansas, and is buried at OakwoodCemetery, in Parsons, Labette County, Kansas. [Source: Neosho County, Kansas, death certificate no. 67 2969 (1929), David A. Snider; Office of Vital Statistics, Topeka.]

Sunday, July 17, 2011

1687: Hannah (Waldo) Cary, one of my maternal 6th great-grandmothers, was born. She was the daughters of Daniel Waldo and Susanna Adams. She died 18 October 1777 and is buried at the Old Cemetery, East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. This photograph of her grave marker was posted by Paul.Connell to findagrave.com on 24 September 2008:

Howell Brewer Martindale, born about 1814 in Moore County, North Carolina, married Mary Elizabeth Eaton 9 August 1838, Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri, died about 1866 near Waldron, Scott County, Arkansas;

Mary Elizabeth Eaton, born about 1817 in Missouri, died 11 Jan 1873, Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri;

James B. Forshee, born 10 December 1810 in Tennessee, married Sarah Ann Parker 15 September 1830 in probably in Monroe County, Tennessee, died 28 June 1878, Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri;

Sarah Ann Parker, born 27 January 1816 in Tennessee, died 26 March 1896, Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri;

Andrew Yawman, born 29 March 1810 in Schmittviller, Moselle, France; married Catherine Sitterly 24 June 1834 in Schenectady, Albany County, New York, died 24 December 1891, Denison, Grayson County, Texas;

Catherine Sitterly, born 13 May 1813 in Guilderland, Albany County, New York, died 3 August 1889, Denison, Grayson County, Texas;

James H. Burton, born 1 April 1822, in Virginia, married Margaret Parsons about 1845 probably in Kentucky, died 19 August 1901, Stowe Prairie Township, Todd County, Minnesota;

Margaret Parsons, born October 1826 in Kentucky, died after 1901 probably in Minnesota;

David Snider, born 12 June 1810, probably in Virginia, married Nancy Colwell/Caldwell date unknown, died 4 April 1892, Taylor Township, Union County, Ohio;

Nancy Colwell/Caldwell, born 11 June 1814, in Virginia, died 5 February 1877, in Taylor Township, Union County, Ohio;

Joseph Franklin, born 1826 in Ohio, married Rhoda Cary 12 July 1849 in Union County, Ohio, died 12 October 1892, in Jackson, Paulding County, Ohio;

Rhoda Cary, born 9 January 1833 in Pharisburg, Union County, Ohio, died after 21 August 1872 probably in Ohio.

Their places of birth are as follows:

France – 1

Georgia – 2

Kentucky – 1

Missouri – 1

New York – 1

North Carolina – 1

Ohio – 2

Tennessee – 4

Virginia – 3

I’m not sure whether Alsace-Lorraine was under French or German rule during my Yawman ancestors’ time there. My mother’s family always considered themselves German, but I have heard that Andrew had to renounce his allegiance to the King of France when he naturalized. To date I have not found his naturalization documents.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

During the Civil War, Missouri was a hotbed of Confederate guerilla activity. Bands of guerillas often retaliated against pro-Union citizens when one of their number was killed as a result of the fighting.

The following news article, published in the September 23, 1864, edition of the St. LouisUnion[1], reports an incident of such activity and the death threat that was discovered afterward.

BUSHWHACKERS IN WASHINGTONCOUNTY—UNION MEN SPOTTED

Washington, County, September 20, 1864To the Editor of theSt. Louis Daily Union:

The guerrillas are still at work in Washington county. On last Thursday morning two of these armed villains attacked the house of Mr. Fred Will, whilst he was at breakfast with his family. One of them entered the house by the front door, and stepping, unperceived by the family, to the door of the dining room, asked Mr. Will to step into the hall. This done, he demanded Will's arms, stating that he was a United States detective, and that his captain was at the door waiting for him. Mrs. Will immediately ran into the hall and boldly told Mr. Detective that that game was played out; they succeeded in getting the villain out of the house, when his captain rose from behind a chicken coop with revolver in hand, evidently with the intention of shooting Mr. Will, so soon as they got him to the door, but they were foiled in their attempt at murder, and forthwith made a hasty retreat to their horses, which were tied in the brush, not more than one hundred and fifty yards from the house. They next visited the house of Thos. Blakewell, stole his rifle and put out. The neighborhood was soon aroused and gave chase to them, but owing to the dust in the roads and the woods being so very dry, they were unable to track them successfully. They next went to the house of Mr. Patterson and stole a rifle and revolver, and also some money and jewelry. When they decamped from Patterson's, they went to the house of Mr. M.A. Todd, late Sheriff of Washington county; they robbed him of a shot-gun, a revolver, money and jewelry. From Mr. Todd's they went to the farm of Mr. Nicholson and stole a fine horse belonging to George Towl, of Potosi. The troops in Potosi were soon out in pursuit of the thieves, and pressed them so hard that Mr. Towl's horse and one other were recovered from them; but the rascals made good their escape.

The country is full of bands of guerrillas. No Union man's life or property is safe, while rebels and rebel sympathizers feel perfectly safe and secure from any guerrilla depredation. They are fed and harbored by their friends, and get all the information they want from sneaking sympathisers who are permitted to live in our midst unmolested. Had Order No. 107 been faithfully carried out, and two full companies put into active service, I venture to say that guerrillas would be scarce.

On last Sunday morning a son of Rev. S. Brown found a dropped letter on the road, between Potosi and Hopewell, signed, O.A.K. It was evidently written by these desperadoes with a view to alarm Union men. The contents of the letter was a direct threat to have the lives of thirteen Union men in retaliation for their late chieftain, old John Hiley.

They commenced the work by the killing of Lieutenant H.C. Beckett; Captain Fred Will was to be the next victim, and there is no doubt but they intend to carry out their threat, unless they are speedily arrested in their career. The men whom they have selected as their victims are all unconditional Union men, now and forever. I give you a list of doomed: old John Evans, young John Evans, James Thompson, Elbert Thompson, F.R. Boyd, Captain W.H. Evans, Captain Fred Will, Lieut. John Hewey, old John Forshee, Marshall Ronjey, Captain A.R. Eaton, Captain John Jamison, Lieut. Wesley Yeargan. Lieut. H.C. Beckett, killed.

Signed,

INDEX.

Two of the men on that list—old John Forshee and A. R. Eaton—were members of my paternal ancestral families. Old John was brother to James Forshee, my 2nd great grandfather; A. R. Eaton was the younger brother of Mary Elizabeth (Eaton) Martindale, my 2nd great-grandmother. It must have been a terrifying experience to have received such threats.

When I entered “lumber” as a search term, I only got one hit: “House of Hoo-Hoo Built Twice”! Apparently the clubhouse of the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo had burned down in June 1904 and was rebuilt in under 30 days. Click here to see a copy of the program given to visitors and then on the Next arrow to see an official House of Hoo-Hoo pass and a photograph of the house.

Further research led me to the official Hoo-Hoo International website. Founded in 1892, membership in the fraternal organization is open to individuals in the forest services industry. Their membership brochure states:

The spirit of Hoo-Hoo is expressed in the nine fundamental values that encourage members to be fraternal, helpful, grateful, friendly, tolerant, progressive, industrious, loyal, and ethical. Hoo-Hoo believes that these nine points are the building blocks of the "Golden Rule". Hoo-Hoo members are expected to practice these principles in both their business and personal lives.

This is their logo:

While I never had the opportunity to know my great-grandfather, I have the impression that he was a rather reserved man. I can’t quite imagine him being a card-carrying Hoo-Hoo, but who's to say?

Monday, July 11, 2011

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

Today, I am presenting the will of John Hammontree, one of my paternal 4th great-grandfathers. John names his children, providing evidence to prove parent-child relationships. His daughters’ married names are given, and, in one instance, the husband’s full name is also included. An image and the source citation follow the transcription:

I John Hammontree Sr. being of Sound and perfect mind andmemory on this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our lord

Savir Jesus Christ Eighteen hundred and forty do make this my last

will and testament_ and first I will my Soul to God who gave itand my body a christian burial, and 2d all my just debts be paid

3d I bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah a good Suporte out of my Mill

and plantation and remain in this my dwelling during her natural

life 4th I bequeath to my two Sons Phillip and John my my Mills andplantation equally by them paying my son Hugh one hundred dollars

Friday, July 8, 2011

1752: Luther Cary, one of my maternal 4th great-grandfathers, the son of Ezra Cary and Mary Jane Holman, was born in Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey. Luther, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, died on 8 October 1834, and is buried in Plain City, Madison County, Ohio. [Source 1: Joiner, Darrell and Sallyann, Cary Family History. Source 2: Luther Cary, Ancestor #A020239, Member National #320524, Daughters of the American Revolution.]

Monday, July 4, 2011

A search of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) patriot database identifies five of my ancestors as patriots during the Revolutionary War:

Luther Cary (maternal 4th great-grandfather)

George Clayton (maternal 5th great-grandfather)

Thomas Cook (maternal 4th great-grandfather)

William Justice (maternal 5th great-grandfather)

James Reeves (paternal 4th great-grandfather)

Recognition as a patriot by the DAR does not require active military duty. In fact, only one of these five, Luther Cary, served in a military unit. The others provided provisions or supplies for the army.

Only those individuals who have had patriotic service documented by a DAR member are found in the database. There are probably other patriots in our family whose service has not yet been recognized in this way.

Our roots are long and strong in the history of the United States of America. Truly we are descended from revolutionaries!

John and his first wife, Dialtha Owens, had six children before Dialtha died in 1893; the eldest, Jasper Jackson, was my grandfather. John and Annie had thirteen children, making John the father of nineteen children, eighteen of whom lived to adulthood! John is certainly the top candidate for my most prolific ancestor.